Hand cart with load fastener



Sfit. 6,, W49. 5. E. NIELSEN 2,4319145 HAND CART WITH LOAD FASTENER Filed Sept. 3, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

A TTQRNE Y Set. 6,, W49.

5. E, NIELSEN HAND CART WITH LOAD FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1.946

Sidney E 'NJ'QJSQH INVENTOR.

A v(Illa!!! III A ATTORNEY fiepito 6, 1949. s. E. NIELSEN 2,481,145

HAND CART WITH LOAD FASTENER 7 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 7 4 Sheets-Sheet s Sidhey E. iels en IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY fiept. 6, 1&9. s. E. NIELSEN HAND CART WITH LOAD FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 3, 1946 Sidney E. Nz'dsen INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY patented Sept. 6 1 949 NITED ES hAT QF'F 1 CE HANDiGART WIEIH LOAD :EASEYENER: Sidney E;' Nielsen, ShreveporhLa, Applicatiomseptember 3, 1946, Serial No. 694,515 LQlaim. (Cl. 280 949) This invention has to do with; a generahpun pose vehicle which hasmany uses. It is ofg e era-h utility on farms and ranches, in: gardening;

and-:dairy operations; as a push cart around; town and; inremoving trash and garbage The; usual. wheeledvehicle available-in the past has ordinarily been built; especially. for-some, par-v ticular task; such as the transportingof; barrels or milk; cans or boxes, The result has-been that suchindiyidual vehioleshave nothad a wide uti lization; and: several, dilferent vehicles; were;

bought by the; same: user, each for a different task.

Where shafts: or handles were used to pushthevehicle; c it; has: usually been, necessary to; provide;

such; shaftawithlegs, tokeep them up out of -thedirt; The old style vehicles; were; so; improperly balanced that: usually'most of the weight was. carried to the rear of: the axle, as in a wheels. bar-row; and this required th operator to; lift considerable weight while pushing the vehicle,

and'also allowedthe handles to;fa-1l;to;the ground;

Other unsatisfactory devices, of this; general class,v frequently allowed; most of the Weight to fall entirely in front; of the axle,- as in abeer- 1 barrel cart.

My general; utilityvehicle has, as an; object, such. design and} construction that slightly; ore or the, weight: of the load is carried; advance;

of the axle. This means that the operator does not, exertany: energy in lifting thevehicle while he is propelling it; and it makes-the use; of legs under the shafts unnecessary; and; it keeps thev handles up' out of the mud, wheneverhe lets) loose of them, My vehicle is therefore purposely unbalanced to a slight extent, with the greater,- load being carried before the axle of the shaft,v so-that the operator has but to pull downwardly" very slightly on the; handles; while; moving; the; loaded cart.

Removable racksare provided in; a position of unbalance before and/or above, and, before axle. of the vehicle to accommoda e bulky 1:- jects; and the construction of my device is such; that a rack extending in front of the axlemay be nearly counter-balanced by a cart body can ried; above or behind, the axle, and/ or by another rack carried above the axle, whenever the racks and bodyare all loaded, and also whenever they are all empty. This isany important object,

My vehicle has many uses. It is provided witha light weight frame, mounted on relatively high; wheels, which roll easily, and may have rubbertires. The hubs of the wheels do not extendout-t wardly beyond the: vertical plane of the tires and thereio e q jur sda e oor meme w en;

e h clet shed a hr u a 1.90.11- P i1 A prin l-keptrlho k sz a r dj r an djustab e rod, which m y be l wered.orteleva edinlal -a tachment tube. to. accommodate the lifting; of

boxes, bales; cans. and!v other; objects. of; varying.

heights. This is. an: important; advantage.

The vehicle may beiinvertedi and'imadeoto carry will be found the following:

(arAn all purpose general utility vehicle, comprising a wheeledcart so designedand con structed that the greater weight of the vehicle lies forward of the axle and the shafts for propelling the vehicle remain conveniently tilted-and ele ated, s hat. th o d n 'hav t? be i ted p y he nera qr nd q hatt a ndl s always remain up out of the dirt; and this is so whether the cart be waded or empty.

(1)) A wheeled art-hav ng means,- or ous ng and. lifting objects to; be transported, and. the ho king m nseing pab e o a u tmen t different elevations to accommodate the tr portati n t Obi 6 5 ;0 i er nt h t n ener l u i y art. a ba d n ro d th; n i ral tr r; books iQhlQ Q5 with a movable in keeps s hat at ach:- ment o, bieets mar es u Whil they manually releasable arranged t suppo h We -tor bje t I t check ther to, sw lsreated; at where a. 1:2 y; of haoks a e prov ded the weight carried thereby is disposed: substantially efot he. ax eofi he cart, whether the hooks e arran ed ransver ely or lon itudinally t the cart, and means whereby-either arrangement may bee i qtedl (e). A. forw rd: rack which ore than. 0 n= meenses. the, w i ht f; he art; ha d e w en reinq ahlr hun v y:aycxhe ye-. the; frame t e ar and arran ed to. xtend; omewha or -e zontally in advance of the axle.

It an; upn rac di pos d b ve and. beren th Whe ls bath laterally an lana t i llib he r a e Pa f w i h s; disposed ante iorly ver the aaleless a supp rt the eek; n. a sub an ia ly r zon a e ev pos n. allowing, free, mo em nt o the earth Whee s an (h) A general purpose vehicle which ma be inverted to afford a cultivating device having an attachment tube extending toward the ground, and an adjustable rod within the tube as a means for carrying plowshares and other tools of cultivation.

Preferred forms of my device are shown in the accompanying drawings; and changes may be made in these forms without departing from the spirit of my invention; and in these drawings:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a typical cart.

Fig. II is a plan view of a typical cart without racks, as seen from above.

Fig. III is a partiaL-y sectionalized elevation of the left half of a typical cart carrying forward rack, viewed from the right side of the longitudinal median line of the cart.

Fig. IV is a partially sectionalized elevation of the left side of the cart, without racks, showing the attachment tube with adjustable hook.

Fig. V is a partially sectionalized elevational View of the vehicle indicated in Fig. IV, in inverted position and carrying cultivating attachment.

Fig. VI is a partially sectionalized elevational view of the attachment tube and adjustable hook, in normal vertical position.

Fig. VII is a perspective view of the axle housing and adjacent members, showing the forward rack in place.

Fig. VIII is a partially sectionalized elevation of the left half of a cart carrying upper rack only.

Fig. IX is a plan view of the upper rack and certain supporting members thereunder.

Fig. X is a partially sectionalized elevation of means for attaching the upper rack to the cart shafts.

Fig. XI is a partially sectionalized elevation of one of the two front legs of the upper rack.

Fig. XII is a front elevational view of a cart provided with modified frame.

Fig. XIII is a front elevational view of the cart shown in Fig. XII, but in inverted position and provided with a removable body.

Fig. XIV is a partially sectionalized side elevation of the cart shown in Fig. XII provided with body and arranged for carrying a can forward of the axle shaft.

In the drawings, which represent a typical vehicle, and a modified form thereof, the various elements and parts of the device are indicated by numerals, wherein like parts are given the same numeral, and in which the numeral I indicates the wheels of the vehicle; and the device is provided with shafts 2, connected at their rear ends with transverse handle 3, for pushing or hauling the cart about.

Between the two wheels of the vehicle there is a substantial tubular member comprising an axle housing 4, in which the axle 5 is carried. The axle and its indicated housing may be thus made as separate members; or in place of the two there may be substituted a single tubular or shaft-like 4 member to form an axle; and in any event the shafts 2 may be fastened, through the use of welding or bolts or other means, to the axle housing, if one is provided, or directly to the axle itself, if there be no housing.

However constructed, the axle is made to extend horizontally beyond the shafts and into hubs 6 of the wheels; and spokes I radiate from each hub to the wheel felloe or band la; and the wheel is finishedwith a tire 8, which may be made of metal, but preferably of resilient material such as rubber; and a pneumatic tire may be used.

The body beam 9 is a transverse member forming part of the frame of the vehicle; and it is supported by a pair of main struts 10, which may well be made as inclined or curving return members of the forward ends of the shaft 2, turned upwardly at a position anterior to the axle. To further complete and strengthen the frame and support the beam 9 there may be provided a pair of auxiliary struts II.

In an upright position, slightly forward of the axle housing 4, there is arranged the attachment tube l2; and this tube is provided with a series of vertically spaced holes l3. A. removable adjustment pin 14 is carried in one of these holes in a position appropriate to fasten and support the adjustment rod l5, which is also provided with adjusting holes l3a. Through the use of these complementary holes in the members !2 and IS the latter may be raised or lowered and fixed in whatever position or elevation may be desired.

The slideable and adjustable rod 15 is surmounted by a hook plate i1; and welding 20 is used to attach the plate to the rod. This plate extends outwardly and is arranged to turn up to form a finger or hook l6; and a plurality of such hooks may be arranged about the plate, in whatever direction may be desired. Any of the hooks so fashioned may be used to hold and support chains, wires, cables, ropes or handles on boxes, bales, vessels or other objects to be transported by the cart.

Whenever such objects are to be attached to the hooks, the rod l5 may be dropped within the tube l2 to its lowest position, or to such position as will bring the hook just beneath the chain, cable or handle to be held on the hook. To further facilitate this operation the back ends of the shaft 2 may be elevated, and this will tilt forward and lower the tube 12. When this operation is being carried out the member I! is elevated to a position allowing initial engagement of the hook with the object to be suspended thereby, and then the pin' M is put in place to fix the hook at the desired elevation. When the rear end of the shafts are pulled downwardly toward the ground the hook will be elevated and the object carried thereby lifted free and clear of the ground" or floor for transportation. It is desirable to have a spring 18 carried between the hooks IE to prevent any handle or other object engaged by'the hook from slippingoff. A simple but very effective spring may be formed from a flat strip of spring steel, slightly longer than the distance between the two opposed hook-lips ifia, so that the ends of the strip may find engagement thereunder, when pressed down-' wardly and rotated slightly. To facilitate this operation and to keep the spring in proper place, there is provided the spring cradle l9, which may be fashioned from a very short piece of tubing and welded on the upper face of the hook plate' IT; or it may be fashioned as an integral part of the plate. In the middle of the spring and on its lower'rfacmtherefislprovidedsaaslight projections onidog l 8a. which fitsiinto the: cradle. l9 allowing;

the. spring, to be rotated: thereabout.

When.- a. spring-hook: is provided; with :only two:

fingers, these may be: arranged. longitudinally of the. cart, so that oneextends somewhat in. ad-

vance ofthe axle of the. cart, and the other one isscarried substantially above:- the: axle. This. arrangementis made. to carry outadesired unbalance in thevehicle, sdthat: if equaLweights weresuspended from each of these. fingers, the cart would tilt downwardly in front of the. axle; and

the'shafts 2 would tilt. upwardly to the rear.

This same condition. of desirable unbalance would result if thetwofingers; of the hook were turned transversely acrossthe vehicle, as in Fig.- VII, because bothwould then be in:a position anterior to the axle.

. Thehooks can becarried in either of these directions by simply providing. the adjustmentrod' lit with a: series of holes therethrough at right:

angles to another series of holes therethrough;

undthe hooks will be-kept indesired position and directionby the use of adjustment pin l4.

Theattachment tube [2 shouldbe firmly fixed insubstantially uprightposition in front of the.

beam 9 andiof. axlehousings; and onesatisfactory form of making such attachment secure is through the use of welding 2| between members Send It, and in the use of welding 22 between the members d and l2.

The vehicle presenting. the form of its most common useis shown in Fig-. I, wherein the forward rack 23 is made a part of the device. This rack is further shown in Figs. III and the form the'frame 28'of the forward rack 23; The.

yoke, the arms and the frame of this rack'may be made of one tubular member, properly formed; or they may be made of separate membersrigidly attached together through the use of welding or other firm means.

The forward rack should be. made of light weightmaterial; but it must'be quite strong. Arranged. between the side members. of theframe there are light weight cross members 24. These may be made of stout wire, tubesor rods. I-Iow.-. ever, a. strong, light cable or cordmay belaced between the parallel members of'the frame by being looped about the latter or passed through holes therein. The preferred method of construction employs metallic cross members which may be welded to the frame 28 through the use of welding indicated as at 25.

The forward rack is a highly useful part of the device; and it will permit the carriage of a large volume of goods of considerable weight. The front end of the forward rack 23 will rest on the ground to facilitate the placing on the rack of bags of grain and other material, boxes and crates, milk cans and garbage pails and other objects to be transported. While being loaded and after it is loaded the front end of the forward rack will normally touch the ground; and when in this position the handle 3 of the vehicle will be in an elevated position.

Because the shafts 2 are quite long, there is considerable leverage afforded to the operator when he? moves theseshafts downwardly; and: the. result is. that the'load .on .the forward rack is easily lifted. and. canbe= transported with little. effort. A cableor. chainmay be thrown about theobjeots piledon. the forward rack, and then beasnappediintoithe hooks on plate IT. This will. secure the-goods from falling off the rack while.

being, moved.

An upper rack 30 is provided on the vehicle; and it may. be.- used at .thesame time that forward-rack 23 is. attached to the vehicle; and:

either-rackmay be used separately.

Upper: rack 30. has a slightly greater part of.

itslengthextending; forward of the axleof thecart;: and when-this; rack is fully loaded (even without the-use; of the'forward rack 23) it will. cause the shafts 2 and the handle 3 to be tipped upwardly; so. that the. operator in moving. the vehicle. will not have to lift any part of the load carried.- bythe rack, and the handle will be found conveniently. elevated for pushing or pulling.

The upper rackis made with rectangular frame;

34 and-this frame and its floor may be made of suitable material. A- metal tube may be formedtodefine the. rectangle, such material be.- ing strong and of light weight. Transverse metalits members 22 may be disposed between the side members oftheframe M to. form the open floor of the rack, and these may throughthause of welding 33-.

It is to be. noted. that the upper rack may be made fully. as wide. as the maximum over-all width of. the cart through its wheels; and the rack may. be-made slightly larger. Such a rack is-very. useful in carrying. goods of considerablebulk.,such.as.bales ofhay, or grasses andfodder unbaled. Materials in sacks and other containers may. bethrownon this .rackand conveniently transported.

The upper rack is removably attached to the shafts. 23. and to effect such attachment a socket. 3 5 is'made onthe upper part of each of the shafts. I. This socket may be made of a short piece.

ofipipe, attached. to. the shafts through the.use ofl'weldingsfi. Therear-end. member 35a, of the frame 31, has two short fingers 3T fastened thereto throughthe use of welding 58, so that thesefingers look. downwardly; and they are-so positi'oned'as. toextenda short distance into sockets 35,,where they may be removably held in place.

fastening pin 33. This pin passes through companion holes in members 35 and 37, and may be kept in place by the use. of a cotter key 34. Of course. a nut may be used for this purpose.

When. the rear end. of upper rack 36 isfastened, through the use of. pin. 39, this rack may be safely loaded and moved about with the cart. To support the rack above the cart wheels, allowing the latter to operate freely, there is provided a pair of inclined legs 40, the upper ends of which are attached to frame 3! by the use of welding 42; and the lower ends of these legs are split to form socket 4!. This socket rests on axle housing 4.

A modified form of the frame of the vehicle is shown in Figs. XII, XIII and XIV, in which horizontal beam 43 takes the place of beam 9; and from member 43 there extends downwardly a pair of posts l! (in place of the usual struts l0). Welding 44 may be used to connect members 41 and 4; and the welding 45 and 46 may be employed to attach adjustment tube l2 to the members 43 and 4.

The vehicle having the standard frame construction indicated in Fig. V, or having the modibe welded thereto,

bed frame construction indicated in Fig. x11, may be used as a cultivating device. For such use the vehicle is inverted; and the hook plate I! is removed. A cultivating tool '52 may be selected from the many such commercial tools available, and be of any form or shape desired and suitable for the work to be done; and this tool is then attached to adjustment tube l2 of the vehicle.

To eifect such attachment, and to make it entirely adjustable as to the location of the tool at or above or below grade, a rod 5| is provided. This rod is made exactly like rod l5, and carries the usual complement of holes therethrough. The Only difference between rods l5 and 5| is that the latter carries a cultivating tool instead of a hook plate.

The tool may be removably attached to the rod by bolts, so that other tools may be substituted therefor. In fact, a single rod may be used for :all the purposes intended for either rod, provided the hook plate I! be removably attached thereto, :as with machine screws or bolts. In any event, .it should be quite evident that the inverted vehicle, carrying adjustable tool 52 may be used to cultivate plants, or otherwise cut the earth in furrows.

A substantially rectangular cart body 50, is made to have a slightly narrower width at its bottom than at its top; and it is constructed of such size and dimensions that the slightly narrowed bottom will fall between the shafts 2, and be held there by frictional engagement. This body may be thus mounted on the standard cart frame, or on the modified form of cart, as is indicated in Figs. XIII and XIV. When the body is placed on the modified cart while the latter is in upright position, then the whole of the body will fall back of adjustment tube 12. This modified cart may be inverted, as shown in Fig. XIII; and in this position the body member 50 may be set upon the axle housing 4 in such way that the rear end of this body will fall within and slightly below the shafts 2; and the front end of this body will extend some distance before the axle of the vehicle.

When the body member 50 is mounted on the cart as shown in Fig. XIV, it will permit the picking up of large and heavy objects attached to the hook plate I! and suspended forward of the vehicles axle. For instance, the can 48 may be thus transported, and in a position to overbalance the weight of the body 50.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have created a general utility vehicle provided with a removable spring-controlled hooking device which-can be adjustably raised and lowered, to

. lifted and transported; and my general purpose vehicle is provided with a pair of removable racks, one before the axle and one above the axle, and these racks are so constructed and attached that the greater part of their Weight is in front of the axle; and the cart may be made to carry a removable body so adjustable along the shafts of the cart as to act as a counterbalance to overcome the weight of objects carried by the vehicle before its axle; and the design of the vehicle is such that the shafts and handle are always naturally elevated above the ground in convenient position to be grasped by the operator; and the vehicle is capable of being inverted, so that its adjustment tube may be made to carry tools for the cultivation of plants, so adjusted that they may be made to enter the ground to adjustably varying depths, when the vehicle is pulled or propelled along the surface; and the adjustment tube is provided with an adjustable rod which may be made to removably carry either the hooking device'or the cultivating tools; and the whole vehicle is adaptable to a great variety of utilitarian uses.

I claim:

In a general utility vehicle, a frame provided with a pair of wheels for traverse over the ground; and hooking means capable of adjustable elevation above the frame and carried thereby; said means having a pair of opposedly disposed upturned fingers, and being provided with a spring arranged between these fingers, and in contact therewith, and the spring being so constructed as to securely hold objects hooked on the fingers and prevent their slipping off.

SIDNEY E. NIELSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 146,227 Mader Jan, 14, 1947 601,008 Trisler Mar. 22, 1898 909,297 Helgeson Jan. 12, 1909 978,344 Wirt Dec. 13, 1910* 1,382,566 Strauch June 21, 1921. 1,728,081 Rust Sept. 10, 1929 2,373,279 Vogt Apr. 10, 1945 2,396,325 Jimenez Mar. 12, 1946 

